Beginning Freshmen

Are You an Beginning Freshman?

Students who have recently graduated or soon will graduate from high school are considered freshmen, even if a student has completed transferable college credit while in high school. If a student is not a recent high school graduate or received a GED but has completed less than 12 transferable credit hours, then that student is also considered a freshman student and should follow the requirements outlined for freshman applicants. If you have completed more than 12 transferable credit hours, please see admission instructions for transfer students.

Steps to Apply for Admission as a Freshman

Alternatively, you may pay the application fee directly to SHSU after completing your application through ApplyTexas.org. SHSU will receive your application within 24 hours of submission and after that period of time, you may mail a check to the Undergraduate Admissions Office or pay the application fee to SHSU with a credit or debit card.

Mail an official high school transcript to: Sam Houston State University Undergraduate Admissions Office Box 2418 Huntsville TX 77341-2418

Or ask your high school to send an electronic official transcript to Sam Houston State University (code: 003606).

Please note that SHSU does not accept fax or emailed transcripts.

Step 3: Submit Your Test Scores

Contact the appropriate testing agency to request an electronic submission of your test score be sent to SHSU.

Send SAT scores to school code 6643 for SHSU.

Send ACT scores to school code 4162 for SHSU.

Freshman Admission Requirements*

Class Ranking

ACT

SAT (Critical Reading and Math only)

In top 25%

Automatic acceptance†

Automatic acceptance†

In 2nd quarter

20

960

In 3rd quarter

23

1060

In 4th quarter

Considered by review only.

Considered by review only.

*The requirements summarized in the above table are for Texas high school students on the recommended or distinguished high school plan. Graduates of a non-accredited high school, home-schooled students and students who earned the GED must meet the requirements listed in the SHSU Undergraduate Catalog.

†Students automatically accepted into SHSU still need to submit test scores to be considered for certain scholarships.

Texas Uniform Admission Standards

Per state law, TEC 51.803-51.809, Uniform Admissions Standards (UAS) require all students meet one of the following college readiness standards in order to be eligible for consideration for admission at a Texas Four-Year Public Institution.

Successfully complete a curriculum that is equivalent* in content and rigor to the recommended or advanced (distinguished) high school program at a high school that is exempt from offering such programs; or

Satisfy the College Readiness Benchmarks on the SAT or ACT assessment:

SAT- 1500 out of 2400 (Verbal + Math + Writing)

ACT- 18 English, 21 Reading, 22 Mathematics and 24 Science

*In order to claim curriculum equivalencies for a student applicant, the high school counselor or other school official must complete one of the two Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board exemption forms and attach the completed certification to the student’s high school transcript or diploma prior to submission to the admissions office.

Students who graduated in 2011 or after from Texas private schools, Texas public schools and out-of-state schools use TPHSC Form 1 (PDF).

Students who graduated in 2010 or before from Texas private schools, Texas public schools and out-of-state schools use TPHSC Form 2 (PDF).

Scholarship Opportunities

Visit our financial aid website to learn how to complete the FAFSA and to complete the Scholar X Scholarship Application. You must be accepted to SHSU in order to complete a ScholarX application. Most scholarships available to fall applicants have an application deadline of February 1.